Sitges, a coastal town located near Barcelona, in the southwest of Catalonia, is known, especially, for its incredible beaches that bathe its coastline and for the varied tourist variety that it offers to those who visit it: sun and beach, sport, events, gastronomy and shopping. In this article we present a set of plans about what to do in Sitges this August.
If you are thinking of visiting this town, use the shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, that Shuttle2Sun offers you from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Sitges town festival 2023
From 18yh to 27th of August, Sitges holds its Festa Major, in honour of the town’s patron saint, Sant Bartomeu. It is a celebration that has been declared a Heritage Festival of National Interest by the Generalitat de Catalunya. The Festes Majors are a magnificent example of citizen participation, as well as an ideal time to share unique experiences with loved ones, to reinforce the feeling of belonging to the residents, and, at the same time, a very good opportunity to let the world know the goodness and qualities of the city.
That’s why we suggest you don’t miss Sitges on these dates, as you’ll be able to enjoy a town at its most fascinating time of the year, with its streets bursting with life and happiness; and you’ll be able to get to know, first-hand, its tradition and popular culture.
The festivities begin on Friday, 18th of August, with one of the most institutional and traditional events of the programme, the reading of the proclamation in the Town Hall square, which will kick off all the fun and festive events of 2023.
There will be vermouths on 20th, 24th and 25th of August, where you can sample one of the most popular drinks among Catalans, as well as concerts and open-air dances for the Festa Major.
Sitges will also have a wide range of performances of the elements and dances of the local popular culture, the Beasts of Fire and the Giants, big-heads, the Baile de Bastons, the Baile de Cercolets and the Baile de Panderetas, among other groups. You can also feel the adrenaline of the castellers exhibitions, in which human towers several storeys high are created and which are a tradition in the festivities of Catalonia.
On the night of the eve of the Festa Major, Wednesday 23rd of August, don’t miss the fireworks display from different points in the town. On the other hand, as far as religious activities are concerned, the procession in honour of Sant Bartomeu, on 24th of August, is a highlight. The procession is led through the streets and squares of the town by the Costaleros Corps of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla, until it reaches the parish church.
To get to the town, without worries, and in a comfortable and fast way, remember that you can do it with Shuttle2Sun, through our shared transfer services and private transfer services.
Beaches of Sitges
Did you know that the city of Sitges has a coastline of up to 17 km? A total of 19 beaches of fine sand make up the coastline of the town, providing you with multiple services and facilities, as well as a wide range of sporting activities and for the enjoyment of users. In the western area, you will find smaller and more natural beaches, far from the urban area.
Outdoor sports
Another interesting option if you are travelling with your family or friends is to take advantage of the good weather in Sitges to enjoy a good session of water sports in the open air. You should know that there are three marinas, from where you can sail boats, go out on jet skis and sail skates, as well as kayaking, parasailing, kite surfing and paddle surfing, among other disciplines. You have at your disposal several entities specialised in these activities: Sitges Surf Club, Club Nàutic Garraf, Puerto de Garraf and Nootka Kayak & Paddle Surf, among others. What’s more, if you’re a surf lover, you can’t miss the beaches of Sitges, which are ideal for surfing.
If you’re travelling with the youngest members of the family, you can opt for a bike ride along the Sitges Promenade, a 2.5-kilometre long, flat and comfortable space to enjoy the views, just a stone’s throw from the beach. Or take a hiking or cycling route through the Garraf Park or along the path to the nearest town, Vilanova i la Geltrú.
Culture
Apart from enjoying the beaches of Sitges, one of its main tourist attractions, remember that you have a wide variety of historical routes to discover the town’s past, such as, for example, the architectural wealth of the modernist houses from the late 19th century; the old quarter, where the old city walls, the Baluard canyon, the museums and the fishermen’s houses stand out; and the artistic references of the painter and writer Santiago Rusiñol.
Also, the Garraf Park, with an extension of more than 12,000 hectares, and which includes various buildings such as the modernist mansion ‘Plana Novella’; Campdàsens, Ca l’Amell de la Muntanya and Can Planes farmhouses, with defence towers; and La Pleta building, by the Catalan modernist architect Francesc Berenguer Mestres.
In addition, in the centre of Sitges you can see some examples of houses from the 19th and 20th centuries, in styles such as modernist, Gothic, Renaissance and neoclassical. Some of the most outstanding are Casa Josep Mirabent Gatell, Casa Ferret Carreras, the station building, Villa Remei, Villa Subur and Villa Havenmann.
And if you’re a fan of temporary exhibitions, this August you can’t miss the ‘Rusiñol seen by Picasso‘ at the Maricel Museum.
To make all these plans a reality, Shuttle2Sun puts at your disposal shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.